Undersea cable system



March 8, 1938.

J. F. wENTz 2,110,457

UNDERSEA CABLE SYS TEM Filed March 28, 1936 !!!lll//// /NmS/v To@ N J E WE N TZ @y MM f A TTOR/VE Y Patented Mar.`- 8i, 1938 v UNITED STATES PATENTKOFFICE l 2,110,457 UNDERSEA CABLE SYSTEM Jesse F. wenn, New York, N. Y., signor to Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, lNew York, NVY., a corporation of New York Application March 2s, 1936, serial No. 71,395

s claims. (c1. 17a-zes) This invention relates to deep sea cable systems Aillustrates the manner of laying a submarine `cable and more particularly to housings for apparatus connected to a housing constructed in accordance employed in undersea cable systems. with this invention.

'I'he object of this invention is to house re- V Fig. l shows a view partly broken away of the 5` peating and other apparatus required in undersea lhousing constructed in accordance with this lncable systems in a container which is substantially vention. 'I'he housing comprises a helix 4 of steel impervious to water at both high and low presor other material which is capable of withstandsures and which possesses suilicient flexibility to ing deepsea pressures. A pliable copper tube i0 withstand the bending it will encounter during covers the helix I. 'Ihe tube I0 may be conthe laying of the undersea cable system. structed of other material which is pliable and 10 l Since Cyrus W. Field in 1858 laid the iirst Atimpervious to water. `A layer of jute i is wound lantic cable the advance and improvements in around the copper tube i0. Over the jute I the undersea cable communication systems have armor wire 2 is placed. The armor Wire 2 is q been many. One such improvement suggested in similar to that employed in the construction of recent years is the use of repeater stations on the submarine cables. Another layer of jute 3 is 15 ocean bottom which are adapted to be laid with wound around the armor wire 2. the undersea cable 'as described in U. S. Patent In Fig. 2 the end of the housing illustrated in 2,020,297 granted to O. E. Buckley and O. yB. Fig. 1 is shown. The housing comprises the steel Jacobs on November 12, 1935. However, thev helix 4 which serves as a supporting structure.

` housings in which these repeaters and other ap- A steel end plate 5 is so disposed to the helix 4 20 paratus are inserted have heretofore beenof rigid that the plate supports the end of the helix radesign. Since in the laying of an undersea cable dially, while the helix supports the plate longifrom a' cable ship the cable is bent around at tudinally. A hollow central conductor 6 which least one drum, the cable laying operation must is adapted to` be connected to the central con- .25 be interrupted and the cable spliced and conductor of the cable passes through the steel end nected to the terminals of the housing atpoints plate 5 and is insulated therefrom by means of a where repeaters or other apparatus are required. soft rubber insulator l. The rubber insulator 1 This procedure results in considerable loss of time is vulcanized to the hollow central conductor 6 in the laying of the cable and is mechanically and to a container endfcap 8 which alsoserves as difiicult at great depths. an outer conductor. The end cap 8 is preferably 30 In accordance with a feature of this invention constructed so that it is supported by the `steel the electrical apparatus required for undersea end plate 5. Paragutta or other insulation 9 communication is housed in a flexible container which is capable of being connected to the insu-l Which may be bent around the drums employed lation of the armored cable is formed around the v in the laying of the cable. The flexible container insulator 1 and the outer conductor or end cap 8. 35

. is capable of withstanding vthe pressures encoun- Insulation 9- is placed around the insulator 'i and ter'ed in deep sea depths. A pliant covering which the outer conductor 8 before the vulcanization of is substantiallyimpervlous to water surrounds the the insulator 1. The paragutta 9 comprises 4l) container. per cent deresinated balata, 50 per cent depro- 4 In accordance with another feature of this inteinized rubber and 10 per cent Superla wax.' 40

vention water isprevented from entering the con- During the vulcanization of the insulator 1, the tainer at both high and low pressures'. When the compound 9 adheres to the insulator. An an* housing is being lowered for laying on the sea botnealed vcopper jacket I0 which is impervious to tom, variations in the sea pressure are encoun' water and which may be in direct contact with 4r tered. The housing in accordance with this insea water completely surrounds the steel helix 4 45 vvention is capable of withstanding all of the varand extends completely over the circumferences iations in the sea pressure. of the steel end plate 5 and the outer conductor 8.

A more comprehensive understanding of this The portion of the copper jacket I0 which extends invention is obtained by reference to the accomover the steel end plate and the outer conductor o panying drawing in which: may besecured to the end plate and outer cono Fig. 1 shows a view of the housing constructed ductor by welding, brazing or soldering. A ccpin accordance with this invention; per cone lli for reducing the housing diameter to Figs. 2,and 3 are sectional views of the ends .that of the insulation of the cable over a long of the housing shown in Fig. 1. length so that the cone bends around the drum Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a vessel which employed in laying the cable without kinking ex- 55 material l cone il is preferably made of the same material as that of the jacket to prevent corrosion as a result of an electrocouple. The cone il may be soldered or brazed to the jacket lil. rihe space between the cone li and the lcable insulation il is lled with a sealing compound lil, such as Ghatterton compound or melted rubber, which is fluid at low temperatures.

A circuit connecting conductor l2 for connecting the apapratus contained within the housing to the cable is passed through the hollow central conductor l. The wire l2 at the termination of the central conductor t in the housing is insulated by means ofrubber or other suitable rlihe insulation i3 is iixedly held to the insulator l by means of a metallic conelike support ill. Electrical apparatus employed in undersea communication and indicated by the labeled block diagram in the drawing is connected at one lead to the circuit connecting wire i2 and at the other lead to a terminal l5 xedly embedded in the steel end support d and in electrical contact with the outer conductor 8.

When the hollow central conductor t is joined to a. central conductor i8 of a submarine cable the circuit connecting wire l2 is soldered or brazed to both the hollow conductor t and the central conductor i8 at the point of jointure of the hollowconductor 6 and central conductor i8. The central conductor lil is surroundedby paragutta insulation il, preferably comprising 4 0 per cent deresinated balata, 50 per cent deproteinized rubber and l0 per cent Superia wax. After joining the central conductors, paragutta lli by 'the use of a joining machine is applied as a 'Filler to complete the insulation .of the central conductor between the housing and cable. The cone lf is not inserted over the outer conductor t until after the jointure of the cable and housing cornpleted. After the cone is soldered, brazed or welded to the outer conductor, the space between the cone il and the insulations il, tti and il is iilled with the sealing compound i9. To insure the absorption of any water 'that slowly enters the housing, a dehydrating agent such as calcium chloride, powdered alumina or silica gel may be placed within the housing.

rThe housing consists of the steel helix surrounded by the jacket l El and terminating at both ends with the detail shown in Fig. 2. 'The steel helix i is sufficient to withstand deep sea pres-- sure, while the jacket l@ is impervious to water.

Jute and armor may be applied to the housing as shown in Fig. 1. rThe end seals of the housing shown in Fig. 2 prevent the entrance of water into the housing at deep sea pressure.

Fig. 3 shows another type of end seal employed `for the housing illustrated in Fig. l. The housing of which Fig. 3 comprises the end seal is an elongated steel helix over which a iexible jacket of copper or other metal which is impervious to water is placed. The elongated steel helix 2li iits into a steel end plate el hollow central conductor 2li having a shoulder thereon is passed through the end plate 25. The conductor also passes through a metallic outer conductor The outer conductor 28 is electrically connected to a ground plate 2l. ,A terminal 29 is connected to the ground plate and passes through the end plate t to be connected to apparatus within the housing. A hard rubber insulator 3l having a shoulder thereon separates the central conductor 26 from the Steel end plate 25, the ground plate 2l, and the outer conductor 2th The shoulder oi -tends over a portion of the copper jacket iti. rl'he the insulator 3l rests against the outer conductor 23, while the shoulder of the central conductor rests against the insulator 3l.' The radial "widths of both the insulator 3i and the central conductor 2t are sufficient to prevent, when subjected to deep sea pressures, appreciable extrusion of the insulator 3l Ithrough the outer conductor 2d or the extrusion of the conductor 26 through the insulator l respectively. The length of the shoulder of both the insulator 3l and the conductor 26 is suiciently great to withstand deep sea pressures without shearing. The portion of the central conductor 2t between the insulator il and the end of the conductor is insulated from the outer conductor by a rubber compound rlhe rubber compound 33 is vulcanized to both the outer conductor 28 and the central conductor 2t. The composition of a material which has been found satisfactory for the insulating compound 33 is as follows:

Parts Deresinated balata 40 Deproteinized rubber 50 Superla wax l0 Age-rite resin (adol-alpha-naphthyl-aminel l Zinc oxide-' 50 Captax (mercapto-benzo-thiozolel .5 Stearic acid .5 Sulphur 3 Petrolatum 5 The material known commercially as Superla wax and employed as an ingredient in the vulcanizing compound and the is a solid parain hydrocarbon wai: derived from petraleum and having a melting point between 71 and 77 C. A range of materials having somewhat higher and somewhat lower melting points are also satisfactory. Reference is made to U. E. patent to iiienct and Santa lflibii, granted on November l2, i922@ lfor a further description of such 'waxes and their inodes of preparation.

Since the vulcanizing compound does not adhere readily to the paragutta of the submarine cable after vulcanization, the portion oi the cornpound which extends beyond the outer con ductor is covered with paragutta ll. 'ne paragutta consists of iii parts of deresinated balata, 50 parts of deproteinized rubber and ten parts of Superla wax. In the vulcanization of the compound the paragutta Elli adheres to the compound lThe manner oit vulcanizing the compound is described in the copending .application of W. li/i. Bishop Serial No. 'llfill led oi even date herewith. lli/'hen the cable is spliced for connection to the housing, the para guttay of the cable adheres readily to the paragutta 34 of the housing. A central conductor il of a submarine cable is joined to the hollow conductor of the housing. At the point of jointure, a circuit conducting wire Il? which passes through the hollow conductor 2G is soldered to both the central conductors 26 and 50. rIv'he central conductor 5@ of the submarine cable is surrounded by paragutta insulation 35 of the same composition as that of the insulation 3d. After jointure of the central conductors 26 and 5b, insulation 52 comprising paragutta of the same composition as that of the insulation 3d and is applied as a filler to complete the insulation ci 'the central conductors between the cable and housing. .after the central conductors have been jointed and the insulation 52 placed over the jointure, a sleeve 3l is fitted into the outer conductor 2d and covers the paragutta lnsulating material for a considerable length.

In order to reduce gradually the diameter of the housing to that of the cable, .a plurality of rings of solid metal 36 are'employed. 'I'he rings 36 are graduallydecreased in outside diameter from that of the housing to that of the insula tion of the cable. The rings 36 may be made of metal tape instead of consisting of solid metal. The sleeve 31 supports the rings 36 and furnishes a long path for any sea water that might enter through the joint between the vulcanizing compound 33 andthe outer conductor 28. 'I'he outer conductor 28 is provided with a plug 53 through which a sealing compound 54 may be inserted.

The sealing compound is preferably a material,

' between the sleeve 31 and the insulators 35 and 52. A terminal nut 39 is flxedly attached to the central conductor 26 by means of threads. A hard rubber bushing 40 surrounds'the insulator 3l to support the shoulder of the nut 39. One lead from the electrical apparatus inserted in the housing is connected to the ground plate 21 by the terminal 29, while the other lead from the apparatus is connected to the central conductor by means of the circuit conducting wire 49 which is soldered to the central conductor 26 at a point of jointure of the cable with the housing.

At both low andhigh sea pressures, the vulcanizing compound 33 prevents leakage of sea water between the insulator 3| and the outer conductor 28 and also leakage between the central conductor 26 and the insulator 3l. At high sea pressure the construction, of the shoulder on the central conductor and the shoulder on the insulator 3l prevents leakage of water between vouter conductor 28 and the insulator 3l and -the ground plate 21, the outer conductor .28 and a portion of the sleeve 31. The jacket 30 may be rbrazed, soldered or welded to the end plate 25,

the ground plate 2-1, the outer conductor 28 and the sleeve 31. 'I he housing including the end seal shown in Fig. 3 is covered with jute and armor wire as illustrated in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 4 the laying of a submarine cable and the housing constructed in accordance with this invention is shown. In the laying of a cable for undersea communication, the cable usually passes over two sheaves and a drum.` A cable 4I having a housing 42 in accordance with this invention connected to the cable passes over two sheaves 43 and 45 and a drum ,44. 'Ihe ilexible nature Y, of the housing permits the laying of the cable without the necessity of 'splicing of the cable on I `thecable ship for the connection of the housing.

While preferred embodiments o! this invention have been illustrated and described, various modications therein may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of a deep sea cable having armoring with a deep seal housing for electrical apparatus. said housing comprising a flexible containercapable of withstanding the pressures encountered at deep sea and a pliant covering about said container and supported thereby and which is impervious to Water surrounding said` container, said armoring being continued over said housing to relieve it of longitudinal strain.

Y 2. A deep sea cable having armoring to take up longitudinal strain, a deep sea housing for electrical apparatus inserted -in said cable, said housing comprising an elongated flexible tubular member, a pliant metal covering substantially impervious to water surrounding said housing and sealing means for substantially preventing water from entering either end of said housing, said tubular member being capable of supporting said covering under deep sea pressure and said armoring being continued over and surrounding said housing to relieve it of longitudinal strain.

3. A housing for electrical apparatus adapted to be laid on a sea bottom comprising a flexible container capable of withstanding the pressures encountered on the sea bottom, a pliant metallic covering surrounding said container which is substantially impervious to water, and a metallic member sealed to said container and said covering at one end of said housing and having'a central opening for passing a cable conductor from the interior of said container and including sealing means about said conductor within said member for substantially preventing water from entering said container.

4. In an end seal fora submarine housing an outer conductor, and an inner conductor, a portion of said inner conductor passing through said outer conductor, an insulating material which adheres to said outer conductor and said inner conductor and which forms a seal for preventing the leakage of water into said housing and an insulating compound which adheres to said ilrst insulating material, which surrounds a portion of said' conductor not surrounded by said iirst material and which is capable of adhering to the insulation of a submarine cable.

5. A deep sea housing for electrical apparatus adapted to be built into a deep sea signaling cable which comprises a flexible container capable of withstanding deep sea pressures, end plates for said container each having a central opening and capable of withstanding deep sea pressures, a pliant impervious metal covering surrounding said container and sealed to said end plates, a conductor sealed by low pressure and high pressure sealing means into each oi' said openings andV connected to the cable conductor', armoring about said container for relieving said container of longitudinal strain from the cable. 6. A deep sea entrance seal for passing a conductor into a low pressure housing having a rigid end plate with a hole, said seal comprising a plug of comparatively hard insulating material, such as hard rubber, vitted into said hole and having a shoulder engaging said plate for sealing under high pressure and also'having'a central bore, a conducting rod passing through said bore and having a 'shoulder engaging said plug for sealing JESSE F. 

